Once described (by themselves) as being the biggest rock 'n' roll band you've never heard of, Thunder are one of the great British rock acts (they sound like a cross between Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones and Bad Company- it's true). Having toured the world extensively since 1989, and released a huge body of records (both studio and live), they've notched up 18 top 40 UK hits. How? Not with massive Radio and TV support, no far from it, their success has been down to a combination of their reputation as a phenomenal live act, and the fanatical support of their ever growing fanbase.

Thunder formed in 1989, and released their debut album "Backstreet Symphony" in 1990, which went Gold. The follow-up "Laughing on Judgement Day" (which also achieved gold status), peaked at No. 2 in the UK album charts. Their legendary appearance in 1990 at Monsters of Rock at Donington cemented their place in the hearts of British rock fans. Twenty years later, after twenty top-50 singles and 9 studio albums Thunder have announced their retirement !!

Albums:

Backstreet Symphony, EMI, Geffen Records, 1990.

Laughing On Judgement Day, EMI, Geffen Records, 1992.

Behind Closed Doors, EMI, 1995.

The Thrill Of It All, B Lucky Records, 1997.

Giving the Game Away, 1999.

Shooting At The Sun, STC Recordings/Frontiers Records, 2003.

The Magnificent Seventh, STC Recordings, 2005.

Robert Johnson's Tombstone, STC Recordings, 2006.

Bang!, STC Recordings, 2008.

This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com.

ZZ Top is an American rock trio that formed in late 1969 in Houston, Texas, US. The group members are Billy Gibbons (lead vocals, guitar), Dusty Hill (vocals, bass, keyboards), and Frank Beard (drums, percussion).

The band holds the distinction of being among the few rock bands still composed of its original recording members for nearly 40 years[1] and until September 2006, the same manager/producer/image maker, Bill Ham. ZZ Top reached peak commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring many hit songs during that era, but they remain together today and are still touring and releasing albums.

ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. Summarizing their music, Cub Koda wrote, "As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America's finest blues guitarists working in the hard rock idiom ... while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support."[2] Their song lyrics often feature sexual innuendo and humor.

Nearly as well-known as their music is the group's image: Gibbons and Hill are almost always pictured wearing sunglasses (a nod to their 1979 song "Cheap Sunglasses"), similar if not matching clothing, and their trademark chest-length beards (ironically, in spite of his own surname, Beard almost always sports just a mustache).

In 1984, the Gillette Company reportedly offered Gibbons and Hill $1 million each to shave their beards for a television commercial but they declined, stating "We're too ugly without 'em".

Group formed in Texas, February 10, 1970; members include Billy Gibbons (born Houston, Tex.; guitar), Dusty Hill (born May 19, 1949, in Dallas, Tex.; bass), and Frank Beard (drums).

Gibbons formed first band, the Saints, at age 14; later played with the Coachmen and with Billy G. and the Ten Blue Flames; played with the Moving Sidewalks, 1967-70. Hill began playing bass at age 13; played in various groups, including the Deadbeats and Lady Wild and the Warlocks; played in the American Blues Band, 1967-70. Beard played in various bands before forming the American Blues Band, which backed numerous blues headliners, including Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, and Freddie King.

This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com.